Fighting depression without a plan will drain you. A good management strategy will help you cope better and help to lessen the uncertainty.
After my major breakdown I started seeing both a psychiatrist and psychologist. This occurred because my psychiatrist realised I needed more time to talk and be able to work through all I’m feeling and she didn’t feel that she could provide adequate time for that. I was super grateful because I realised that after each session, just being able to talk in a non-judgmental environment helped me to feel lighter and less anxious
My Self-Care Management Strategies
"Some wounds are hidden, but that doesn't mean we can't uncover them and help them heal." Advent Health
One of the first things my psychologist and I discussed was journaling. I’m not very good at journaling; I can’t seem to express my emotions well in that way. However, I told her about how I write poetry when I’m hurting and we agreed that I journal in poetry. That has helped a lot in these past months, being able to get out my feelings without feeling choked up unable to express has helped me to process more of what I am going through.
I also learned how to identify my triggers and in so doing have been able to find ways to avoid walking headlong into situations that would harm me emotionally. Another thing we have done is worked on my identifying cognitive distortions and how my automatic thoughts are distorted and I am working towards consciously changing how I allow myself to think.
My self care strategies have also improved; I recognise when I am on the verge of a melt down I need to head to the beach or use wave ambiance sound to calm my anxiety and stop me from going into a full on attack. I also have been cleaning and reorganising cluttered spaces around me. Also I’ve been more physically active, dancing around the house, going for long walks, going to the beach more. These activities get my blood pumping, change how I breathe, allow me to take in more air and my brain to feel less foggy.
I’ve recognised that clutter makes me feel down and disorganised…my clutter is actually a result of how disorganised I used to be. Removing the clutter and using scented candles and incense sticks to bring a fresh calming scent to my room also has helped to improve my moods and help me feel more relaxed.
The most recent thing I’ve done is started sharing with another friend who has faced depression. He has created a safe space for me to talk unfiltered about any and everything outside of my therapy sessions. Knowing that he has experienced the illness too takes away my fear of sounding “crazy.”
Finding Your Way
"Self-care is not an expense, it's an investment." Minimalism
These are things that I have identified as actionable plans for myself. Things I do to help manage my depression and anxiety along with taking my medication. However, they are in no way one size fits all; therefore you need to get help finding what works for you or use introspection to help you recognise what self care you can implement daily to manage your mental health. This isn’t always easy, especially if you realise you can’t do it alone. I implore you to ditch the fear and do something to show yourself love, seeking professional help is also an act of self care and it may very well be a life saving one.
This YouTube video by How To Adult is very simple and helpful. Check it out!
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Faith
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